BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/568,174, filed Dec. 6, 1995, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/009,856, filed Jan. 16, 1995.
This invention relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, the invention relates to a suction hose having a portion which can be stored in a wand when not needed and can be pulled out of the wand when the wand is in use.
The invention is especially suited for an extendable length wand which can be secured to the free end of a hose of a vacuum cleaner. It should, however, be appreciated by those of average skill in the art that the invention could also be used in various other environments where extendable length conduits are employed.
One problem with conventional vacuum cleaners is that when the vacuum cleaner is used for auxiliary vacuuming operations, the vacuum hose which connects an auxiliary tool, such as a brush or a crevice tool, to the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner is relatively short. While hose extensions are provided, oftentimes they are not employed simply because it is inconvenient and tedious to connect hose sections together so as to have a suitable length of hose to allow a person to perform the desired auxiliary vacuuming operations.
Various types of telescoping wand assemblies are known for both upright vacuum cleaners and for canister vacuum cleaners. Several of these can be telescopically adjusted and latched at one of a number of preset positions. Such wands are disadvantageous from the standpoint that only a limited number of preset lengths of wand are available. Other types of known telescoping wand assemblies enable an infinite adjustment of the wand by providing a means for locking which enables two wand sections to be locked together at any point along their length. However, the known assemblies of this nature involve the use of several additional parts making such wand assemblies disadvantageous from the standpoint of complexity and cost due to the extra parts involved. Also, all of these known wands are rigid.
It is known that one can store a vacuum hose in a permanently installed type vacuum system so that the hose is ready for withdrawal for use when required. It is also known to temporarily store a hose section in an external hose storage tube of a canister type vacuum cleaner when the hose is not needed. However, neither of these constructions is suitable for use in an upright vacuum cleaner.
Also known is an upright vacuum cleaner having a detachable vacuum hose which is coupled to a hand held wand. The vacuum hose has a first end that can telescope into the wand from a first end thereof to a second end thereof for storage when the wand is not needed. The hose can be pulled out of the wand until the hose first end contacts the wand first end for use in auxiliary cleaning operations. However, this design is disadvantageous from the standpoint that it is expensive to manufacture. Sealing problems may also be experienced as the hose first end slides in the wand between the ends of the wand.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved extendable hose construction for a vacuum cleaner which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved vacuum cleaner is provided.
More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a filter chamber, and a hose including a first end, secured to the housing and in communication with the filter chamber, an intermediate portion and a second end. A tubular wand is selectively mounted on the housing. The wand has a first end and a second end. The hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through the wand from the wand first end toward the wand second end. The hose second end is positioned adjacent to the wand second end. A connector assembly is secured on the hose intermediate portion and is selectively secured to the wand first end, wherein when the connector assembly is secured to the wand first end a substantial portion of the hose intermediate portion is stowed in the wand. When the connector assembly is spaced from the wand first end, a substantial portion of the hose intermediate portion is pulled out of the wand.
According to another aspect of the invention, an extendable hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner is provided.
More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the extendable hose assembly comprises a hose including a first end, secured to a housing of the vacuum cleaner, an intermediate portion and a second end. A wand is selectively mounted on the housing. The wand has a first end and a second end. The hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through the wand from the wand first end toward the wand second end. The hose second end is positioned adjacent to the wand second end. A clip is selectively secured to the wand first end. The clip is secured on the hose intermediate portion, wherein when the clip is secured to the wand first end a substantial portion of the hose intermediate portion is stowed in the wand. When the clip is spaced from the wand first end a substantial portion of the hose intermediate portion is pulled out of the wand.
According to still another aspect of the invention, an extendable hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner is provided.
More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the extendable hose assembly comprises a tubular wand having a first end and a second end. A hose has a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion therebetween. The hose first end is secured to the wand first end and the hose intermediate portion extends longitudinally through the wand. A connector assembly includes an inner member and outer member. The inner member has a first surface secured to the hose second end and a second surface selectively secured to the wand second end. The outer member cooperates with the inner member to selectively release the inner member second surface from the wand second end.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved vacuum cleaner.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner having an auxiliary cleaning system including a wand and a hose connecting the wand to a suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner wherein a portion of the hose can be stowed in the wand when the wand is not in use.
An additional advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable length wand which can be connected to either a free end of a length of hose or to a wand secured to the free end of the length of hose.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable length wand which is infinitely adjustable, is simple to use and which utilizes a minimum of parts.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable length wand which has a flexible hose stored therein. A second end of the wand, and one end of the hose, can be distanced from the remainder of the wand so that the first end of the wand can be oriented in any desired angular orientation in relation to the second end of the wand.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable wand assembly for a vacuum cleaner wherein a clip can be selectively secured to an end of the wand in order to hold a hose connector in place on the wand. When the clip is secured to the wand, a hose extending between the hose connector and a front end of the wand is stowed in the wand. When the clip is spaced from the wand, the hose connector is pulled away from the wand--when the wand is in use--and a substantial portion of the hose is pulled out of the wand. This lengthens the wand and enables the wand to be brought closer to a work surface.
A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable length wand which can be secured to either a free end of a hose or to a second wand in order to extend the length of the hose or of the second wand and allow any conventional cleaning tool, such as a brush or a crevice tool, to be secured to the first end of the wand.
A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extendable hose assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a wand and a hose that can be accommodated on a housing of the vacuum cleaner when they are not in use.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a vacuum cleaner accommodating the extendable hose construction according to the present invention in a storage position;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 with the extendable hose construction in an extended use position;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an extendable wand assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the wand assembly along
lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the wand assembly along
lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clip of the wand assembly of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the clip of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the clip along
lines 8--8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the clip along
lines 9--9 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hose connector of the wand assembly of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the hose connector of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the hose connector along
lines 12--12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the hose connector of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the hose connector along
lines 14--14 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a housing of the wand assembly of FIG. 4;
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view through the housing of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the wand assembly of FIG. 4 in an extended position;
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view in cross section of the wand assembly of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a wand assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the wand assembly of FIG. 19 being connected to a second wand;
FIG. 21 is a schematic side elevational view, partially in cross section, of the wand assembly of FIG. 19 being connected to another type of wand;
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a wand according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is an enlarged top plan view of a rear portion of the wand of FIG. 22.
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a wand of an extendable hose construction according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view in cross-section of the wand of FIG. 24 in an assembled condition with a hose held in the wand in a collapsed condition of the hose;
FIG. 26 is an enlarged side elevational view in cross-section of a second end of the wand of FIG. 25 illustrating a connector assembly;
FIG. 27 is a side elevational view in cross-section of a portion of a housing or outer member of the connector assembly of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is an enlarged perspective exploded view of first and second clip members of the connector assembly of FIG. 26;
FIG. 29 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section of a connector assembly securing a first end of the hose to a housing of a vacuum cleaner;
FIG. 30 is an enlarged side elevational view in cross-section of a second end of a wand and a connector assembly according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 31 is a side elevational view in cross section of a first end of the wand of FIG. 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a wand assembly A which is connected to one end of an external hose B of a vacuum cleaner C. An internal hose D is housed in the wand assembly A. While the vacuum cleaner C is illustrated as being of an upright type, it should be appreciated by those of average skill in the art that the extendable wand construction illustrated herein could also be employed for use on canister vacuum cleaners, wet/dry vacuum cleaners and in a variety of other fluid supply or fluid withdrawal environments.
With reference now to FIG. 4, the wand assembly A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, includes a
tubular portion 10 having a
first end 12 and a
second end 14. An
end member 16 is secured to the tubular portion
first end 12. The
end member 16 includes a
first end 18 which is tapered in relation to a
second end 20. The
second end 20 includes a reduced
diameter section 22 which is secured in the tubular portion
first end 12. Located on an inner periphery of the end member
second end 20 is a
helical groove 24.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, located on the
second end 14 of the
tubular portion 10 is a
flange 26. Positioned adjacent the
flange 26 is a
circumferential groove 28 defined in the outer periphery of the tubular portion
second end 14. Located adjacent the
groove 28 is a tapered
shoulder 30 which forms an end edge of the
tubular portion 10.
Located on the
second end 14 of the
tubular portion 10 is a
connector assembly 32. The
connector assembly 32 comprises a
clip 34, illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, a
hose connector 36, illustrated in FIGS. 10-14, and a
housing 38, illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.
With reference now to FIG. 6, the
clip 34, which is made from a suitable resilient plastic material, includes a plurality of spaced
fingers 40 separated by
slots 42. Also, a pair of wide openings 44 (FIG. 9) separate groups of four
fingers 40 from each other. The
fingers 40 are defined on a
ring 46. Located on an outer surface of each of the
fingers 40 is a
rib 48. Each of the
fingers 40 also has a thickened
free end 50 as shown in FIG. 8. Defined on an inner surface of the
clip 34 are a pair of
semi-circular projections 52 as shown in FIG. 7.
With reference now to FIG. 10, the
hose connector 36 includes a reduced
diameter end 54 and an
enlarged diameter end 56. The reduced
diameter end 54 has a tapered
inner surface 58, as is evident from FIGS. 12 and 14. Located within the
enlarged diameter end 56 is a
screw thread 60. Extending from the
enlarged diameter end 56 are a pair of spaced
arms 62, each of which has located on an outer periphery thereof a
rib 64 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
With reference now to FIG. 15, the
tubular housing 38 includes an outer periphery on which there are provided a plurality of circumferentially extending spaced
grooves 66 that provide a gripping or grasping surface for the
housing 38. Located on an inner periphery of the
housing 38 are a pair of spaced
grooves 68, 70 which extend circumferentially around the inner periphery of the
housing 38, as shown in FIG. 16. It is also noted that a centrally positioned
aperture 72 is located in the end wall of the
housing 38.
As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
ribs 48 located on the
fingers 40 of the
clip 34 engage in the
second groove 70 of the
housing 38 to lock the
clip 34 in the
housing 38. When the
connector assembly 32 is held on the
second end 14 of the
tubular portion 10, the flanged free ends 50 of the
fingers 40 engage in the
groove 28 defined on the tubular portion
second end 14. The
hose connector 36 snaps into the
clip 34 by the
ribs 64 moving past the
projections 52 so that the
arms 62 are located in the
wide openings 44 of the
clip 34 in order to prevent a rotation of the
hose connector 36 in relation to the
clip 34. However, the
hose connector 36 and
clip 34, together, can rotate in the
housing 38 as desired.
With reference now to FIG. 17, the wand assembly A accommodates the internal hose D which comprises a flexible, collapsible and
expandable hose body 74, including a
helical rib 76 between the spirals of which is defined a
helical groove 78. As shown in FIG. 18, a
first end 80 of the
hose body 74 is secured in the helical groove 24 (FIG. 5) of the
end member 16 by e.g. adhesive or the like, once the hose
first end 80 has been threaded thereinto. An
intermediate portion 82 of the
hose body 74 is accommodated in a collapsed condition in the
wand tubular portion 10. The
second end 84 of the
hose body 74 is held in the enlarged diameter end 56 of the
hose connector 36 because the
screw thread 60 thereof fits in the
helical groove 78 of the
hose body 74 and can be glued in place.
In a first or contracted position, the wand assembly A allows the internal hose D to be accommodated completely within the
tubular portion 10 because the
connector assembly 32 is secured to the
second end 14 of the
wand tubular member 10. When it is desired to remove the
connector assembly 32 from its locked position on the
second end 14 of the
tubular portion 10, the operator pulls the
connector assembly 32 back away from the wand assembly A. In particular, when the operator pulls on the
housing 38, the
housing 38 pulls the
clip 34 and the
hose connector 36 away from the wand
second end 14. Rearward movement of the
connector assembly 32 permits the internal hose D to be partially pulled out of the
tubular body 10 as shown in FIG. 17. This allows the wand assembly A to be lengthened as needed.
With reference now to FIG. 19, a second preferred embodiment of a wand assembly E is there illustrated. The wand assembly E comprises a
tubular portion 110 having a
first end 112 to which an
end member 114 can be secured and a
second end 116. Defined on the second end are a
flange 118 and a
collar 120. The
collar 120 includes a
grooved section 122 and a
tapered shoulder 124. Of particular interest is the provision of a plurality of spaced
slots 126 extending longitudinally from a free end of the
tubular member 110 towards the
flange 118 thereof. The
clip 34,
hose connector 36 and
housing 38 are identical to what has been described above. Therefore, the same connector assembly 32 (FIGS. 6-16) is employed in this embodiment as was described above.
When it is desired to remove the
connector assembly 32 from the tubular portion
second end 116 so as to deploy the internal hose D, the
housing 38 is grasped and pulled rearwardly away from the
tubular body 110. As this is happening, the
slots 126 in the
second end 116 of the
tubular portion 110 allow an inward flexure of the tubular portion
second end 116--which in essence has a plurality of resilient fingers because the
tubular body 110 is made of a suitable plastic material--at the same time that there is an outward flexure of the
fingers 40 of the
clip 34. This mutual flexure of the two slotted components enables an easy removal of the
connector assembly 32 from the
tubular member 110 and easy reattachment thereof as well. As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-18, the
housing 38 does not slide in relation to the
clip 34. The
ribs 48 stay seated in the
second groove 70 instead of sliding into the first groove 68 of the
connector housing 38.
With reference now to FIG. 20, a
second wand member 128 is shown as being inserted into the tapered
interior opening 58 of the reduced
diameter section 54 of the
hose connector 36. It is evident that an
external hose 130 is secured to the
second wand 128 while the internal hose D is deployed from the wand assembly E.
Alternatively, as is illustrated in FIG. 21, the wand assembly E can be used with another type of
wand 132. An
external end surface 134 of the
wand 132 mates with the internal tapered
surface 58 of the
hose connector 36. Deployed on another end of the
wand 132 is yet a
further wand 136.
With reference now to FIG. 22, a third type of wand assembly F, according to the present invention, includes a
tubular portion 140 having a
first end 142, a
second end 144 and a
handle 146. As illustrated in FIG. 23, a plurality of
slots 148 extend from a free end of the
tubular portion 140 towards a
flange 150 thereof. Located between the flange and the adjacent end of the tubular portion is a
grooved section 152 and a
tapered shoulder 154.
With reference now to FIG. 24, a wand assembly G according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a
tubular portion 210 having a
first end 212 and a
second end 214. Positioned on an outer periphery of the
tubular portion 210 is a
handle 216. An
end member 218 is secured to the tubular portion
first end 212. The
end member 218 includes a
first end 220 which is tapered in relation to a
second end 222 at which is located a
reduced diameter section 224. The reduced
diameter section 224 is secured in the tubular portion
first end 212 to fasten the
end member 218 to the
tubular portion 210. Located on an inner periphery of the end member
second end 222 is a
helical groove 226.
With reference now to FIG. 25, the wand G accommodates a hose H which comprises a
hose body 230 including a
helical rib 232 between the spirals of which is defined a
helical groove 234. A
first end 236 of the
hose 230 is secured in the
helical groove 226 of the
end member 218 by, e.g. adhesive or the like, once the hose
first end 236 has been threaded thereinto. An
intermediate portion 238 of the hose is accommodated in a collapsed condition in the
wand tubular portion 210.
Located on the
second end 214 of the
tubular portion 210 is a
connector assembly 240. With reference now again to FIG. 24, the
connector assembly 240 comprises first and
second clip members 242 and 244, which constitute an inner member, as well as a
housing 246, which constitutes an outer member of the
connector assembly 240.
With reference now to FIG. 28, the first and
second members 242 and 244 are mirror images of each other and each include a plurality of
first fingers 250 spaced apart by
second fingers 252. The
first fingers 250 each have a dimpled
outer surface 253 on which a
projection 254 is defined. The
second fingers 252 each have a flanged
free end 256. Each of the first and
second members 242, 244 also includes a
circumferential channel 258 defined on their outer face in a spaced manner from the fingers. A
wall 260 extends across the channel at one end thereof. The
first member 242 also includes an
arm 262 on an opposite end of the channel. The
arm 262 has a flanged
free end 264. Similarly, the
second member 244 includes on one end of its
channel 258 an
arm 270 on which a flanged
free end 272 is provided. Defined on the inner face of the first and
second clip members 242 and 244 is a respective
circumferential projection 276 and 278.
In use, the two
clip members 242 and 244 are secured to each other via the enlarged ends 264 and 272 of the pair of
arms 262 and 270 engaging the
respective walls 260 provided in the
grooves 258 of each clip member. This is accomplished as the clip members are positioned around the outer periphery of the
hose body 230 such that the
projections 276 and 278 engage in the
helical groove 234 of the hose. Since the
groove 234 is helical and the
projections 276 and 278 are circumferential, a portion of the
helical rib 232 will be crushed by the
projections 276 and 278. This will insure that the hose is not able to translate or rotate in relation to the inner member formed by the pair of clips.
Referring now to FIG. 26, the tubular portion
second end 214 includes a
flange 280 having a substantially
planar face 282 with a recessed
shoulder 284. The tubular portion second end also comprises a
groove 286 located adjacent the
face 282 and a
tapered shoulder 288 located on the far end of the groove.
With reference now also to FIG. 27, the outer member or
housing 246 is tubular and comprises a
first end 290 on which is located a series of spaced tapered
teeth 292 which lead to an
inner periphery 294. A
first groove 296 extends circumferentially around the inner periphery of the tubular housing member in a spaced manner from the
teeth 292. Spaced from the first groove is a second
circumferentially extending groove 298. Located on a
second end 300 of the
housing 246 is a centrally positioned
aperture 302.
It can be seen from FIG. 26 that the diameter of the
aperture 302 in the
housing 246 is large enough to accommodate the outer periphery of the
hose body 230 so that the hose can extend therethrough. Located on an outer periphery 304 (FIG. 27) of the
housing 246 are a plurality of spaced circumferentially extending
grooves 306 that provide a gripping or grasping surface for the housing. The outer member or
housing 246 is secured in position over the inner member via an engagement of the
projections 254 in the
second groove 298 provided on the
inner periphery 294 of the
housing 246. The
teeth 292 prevent a rotation of the
outer member 246 in relation to the inner member because the teeth project into slots between the
fingers 250 and 252.
The
wand 210 and the
front end 218 of the wand assembly G of FIG. 24 can be made from a suitable relatively rigid thermoplastic material, such as ABS. Similarly, the
housing 246 can be made from ABS. However, the first and
second members 242 and 244 are made from a second, somewhat more resilient, thermoplastic material such as acetal. The
hose 230 itself is preferably made from a vinyl material for good compressibility and resilience. The rib in the
hose 230 can be made from any suitable conventional metal.
With reference again to FIG. 26, it can be seen that in a first position, the
connector assembly 240 is secured on the tubular portion
second end 214. In this position, the enlarged ends 256 of the
second fingers 252 extend into the recessed
area 286 defined in the tubular portion
second end 214.
When it is desired to remove the
connector assembly 240 from its locked position on the
second end 214 of the
tubular portion 210, the operator pulls the connector assembly backwards, away from the wand G. When the operator pulls on the
housing 246, the
projections 254 slide out of the
groove 298 and the
housing 246 slides in relation to the
clip members 242 and 244 until the
projections 254 engage in the
first groove 296 of the
housing 246. Further sliding of the
housing 246 in relation to the
clip members 242 and 244 is prevented by the engagement of the
teeth 292 against the wall of the clips constituting the end of each slot defined between the
fingers 250 and 252. The rearward movement of the
housing 246 will allow the resilient
second fingers 252 of the inner member to flex outwardly so that the enlarged ends 256 thereof will slide up the tapered
shoulder 288. Such outward flexing of the
second fingers 252 is allowed since the
housing 246 will have been slid away from the fingers.
When the
housing 246 is in its rearward position in relation to the
clips 242 and 244, it is locked in that position because the
projections 254 are located in the
first groove 296. When it is desired to again reattach the
connector assembly 240 to the wand, the inner member is slid onto the
second end 214 of the wand until the enlarged ends 256 of the
second fingers 252 are again accommodated in the
groove 286. At this point, the
housing 246 can again be slid forwardly over the
clips 242 and 244 until the
projections 254 are again accommodated in the
second groove 298. At this point, the
connector assembly 240 is again locked in place on the
wand body 210.
With reference again to FIG. 1, a
second end 320 of the hose H is secured via a
connector assembly 322 to a vacuum
cleaner housing 324. Also clipped to the
housing 324 is a
crevice tool 326. Provided at a lower end of the
housing 324 is a
floor nozzle 328. A
filter chamber 329 is located in the vacuum cleaner housing to communicate with the hose
second end 320. A suction motor (not visible) is located either in the
housing 324 or in the
floor nozzle 328.
With reference now to FIG. 29, the
connector assembly 322 comprises a
swivel 330 having an inner
helical groove 332 in which the
second hose end 320 is accommodated. The
second hose end 320 is secured to the
swivel 330 via a conventional adhesive or the like. The
swivel 330 also includes a
circumferential groove 334 defining a
flanged end 336. The
swivel 330 is positioned in a
connector body 340 having a cylindrical construction with an
inner periphery 342 of a large enough diameter to accommodate an outer periphery of the
swivel 330. Located on the
inner periphery 342 of the
connector body 340 is a radially inwardly extending
rib 344 which is accommodated in the
groove 334. Positioned between the
rib 344 and a
flange 346 is a
circumferentially extending channel 348 in which the
flanged end 334 of the swivel is accommodated. The
hose swivel 330 can be made from ABS.
With reference again to FIG. 1, located on the vacuum
cleaner housing 324 is a
socket 350 in which an end member of the wand A, or the
end member 218 of the wand G can be selectively held. Also located on the
housing 324 is a
support clip 352 for selectively holding a portion of the hose body B.
In FIG. 1, the wand and hose are illustrated in their storage position on the vacuum cleaner. With reference now to FIG. 2, the wand and hose are shown in their use position. In this position, the hose which is illustrated in a collapsed form in FIG. 25 has now been pulled out of the wand for use. In order to do this, the
connector assembly 240 is pulled away from the tubular portion
second end 214. This movement enables the collapsed hose to be pulled out of the wand to its extended position. The amount of hose which can be held in the
tubular portion 210 in a collapsed position is about 11 inches of hose. When the hose is pulled out of the wand and extended, 44 inches of hose are provided. In other words, a 4 to 1 compression of the hose is provided via this construction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rear surface of the
housing 324 includes an
indented portion 354 in which at least a portion of the circumference of the hose is accommodated. The housing rear wall also includes an
indented portion 356 for accommodating the wand. Moreover, a
collar 358 is provided on the housing for holding the
tool 326 on the
housing 324.
With reference now to FIG. 30, a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention is there illustrated. In this embodiment, a
second end 360 of a wand I includes a
pivotal latch 362 having a
finger 364 and a
biasing spring 366. The
latch mechanism 362 is meant to selectively hold a
connector assembly 370 on the wand second end. The connector assembly comprises a
first section 372 of a diameter suitably smaller than the diameter of an
inner periphery 374 of the wand. The
first section 372 has a
helical screw thread 376 sized and shaped to accommodate a suitably threaded
end 378 of a
first hose section 380. The
first hose section 380 extends through the wand I to a front end thereof (FIG. 31). The front end of the
hose section 380 can be secured to the front end of the wand in the same manner as is illustrated, e.g. in FIG. 25 of the drawings.
The
connector assembly 370 also comprises a
second section 382 having a threaded
inner periphery 384 in which the
first end 386 of a
second hose section 388 can be accommodated. As is evident in FIG. 30, the two
hose sections 380 and 388 communicate with each other inside the
connector assembly 370 in a leak-proof manner. Defined on an
outer periphery 394 of the first
connector assembly section 372 is a
circumferential groove 396. The groove accommodates the
finger 364 of the
latch 362 in order to hold the
connector assembly 370 to the wand I. When it is desired to remove the
connector assembly 370 from the wand, I, the operator need merely push on a
thumb portion 402 of the
latch 362 thereby allowing it to pivot around a
pivot point 404 thereby pulling the
finger 364 out of the
groove 396. At this time, the
connector assembly 370 can then be pulled rearwardly away from the wand I so that the
first section 372 thereof is no longer located within the wand. At the same time, the
first hose section 380, which is in a collapsed condition when held in the wand I, can be pulled out to a significant extent so as to allow a longer reach for the hose construction.
It has been stated above that the front end of the
first hose section 380 is secured to the front end of the wand in the same manner as is illustrated in, e.g., FIG. 25 of the drawings. However, alternatively, the front end of the first hose section can be secured to a slidable
hose end housing 410 as is illustrated in FIG. 31. In this embodiment the
hose end housing 410 can slide rearwardly in the wand I until the
finger 364 engages in a
groove 412 located on an
outer periphery 414 of the hose end housing. It should be appreciated from FIG. 31 that a
front end 416 of the hose end housing sealingly engages an
inner surface 418 of the wand I when the end housing is in the forwardmost position as is illustrated.
While a hose assembly with first and second sections of different diameters is disclosed in FIG. 30, it should be appreciated that a hose having a single diameter could be substituted therefor if suitable modifications were made to the configuration of the
connector 370. That is, if the spiraling
groove 384 was made the same diameter as the
groove 376, then a single diameter hose assembly can be secured therein via suitable conventional means such as adhesive or the like.
The invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.